BY DOMINIQUE PRICE
Staff Reporter
The School of Communication and Media Arts has announced the annual Student Photography Exhibition, featuring junior Erica Condon and senior Eric Torrens, to take place on Thursday, Oct. 4.
The exhibit is presented by Professor Richard Falco, who has taught at Sacred Heart for seven years. He teaches both Digital Photography and Photo Journalism at the School of Communications and Media Arts.
This upcoming exhibition will be the first of the school year for Falco’s undergraduate students, with the second taking place in the spring semester, and the third taking place over the summer, featuring graduate students.
Every year he chooses one student from each class to showcase their work to friends, family, faculty, and the student body. He encourages and advises each of them to do the best they can in hopes of having the opportunity to have their work showcased at the exhibit.
The photography course that Falco teaches does not depend on how much experience a student has; rather, the information and knowledge gained in the class will help any student progress in their photography skills from beginning to end.
“My goal, and it’s very important that its understood, is that I am trying to make sure that our students, who are creating what I think is quality work, have a place in which they can showcase their work and also share it with the student body and the rest of the university,” said Falco.
“I proudly accepted Professor Falco’s offer and thought about what I should submit that best represents me as a photographer,” said Torrens. “I decided to showcase my portrait photography because I have always been drawn to people and their stories.”
Torrens’ portraits in the exhibit portray people in their passions, whereas Condon’s photos tell a different, unique story.
“I developed my project based on an old, abandoned religious park called ‘Holy Land,’ which is located in Danbury, CT. I decided to title my project, ‘God’s Country,’” said Condon.
Condon wanted to capture not only the mystery of the scenery but the beauty of placing models in photographs as well.
“I was blown away by her photographs. She didn’t just photograph the place; she then brought her own vision into it, her own ideas, and I think they are very unique and quite stimulating to look at,” said Falco.
Falco spends countless hours helping his students sort and edit through their photos to find the best ones to showcase.
“It was an honor to have my work hanging up on display alongside Erica’s,” said Torrens.
Falco stresses the importance of how Torrens and Condon have developed through their photography.
“I think that’s the greatest thing that they have. Not that they have become good photographers – I mean that’s all well and good, but I think the important thing is that they’ve realized that this tool has given them a voice,” said Falco.
Falco hopes to help more students find their voice through photography and showcase their vision in his student photography exhibitions.
“I am truly thankful to Professor Falco for giving me the opportunity to share my art with others,” said Torrens.
